What Does it Mean To Live in a Room ?
What does it mean to live in a room? Is to live in a place to take possession of it ? What does taking possession of a place mean ? As from when does somewhere become truly yours? Is it when you've put your three pairs of socks to soak in a pink plastic bowl? Is it when you've heated up your spaghetti over a camping-gaz ? Is it when you've used up all the non-matching hangers in the cupboard ? Is it when you've drawing-pinned to the wall an old postcard showing Carpaccio's 'Dream of St Ursula'? Is it when you've experienced there the throes of anticipation , or the exaltations of passion , or the torments of a toothache ? Is it when you've hung suitable curtains up on the windows, and put the wallpaper , and sanded the parquet flooring?
- George Perec, Species of Spaces